A Note from President/CEO, Jamie Maslyn Larson

Dear Tohono Chul Community,

This new year arrives during a time of strain in our country, and some of us are entering 2026 carrying uncertainty as we step forward. In moments like this, the turning of the calendar isn’t a reset, but it does offer us a pause — a chance to reflect on what grounds us. For me, the new year is an invitation to lift my gaze from the daily churn and imagine expansively about the future we want to shape here at Tohono Chul — rooted in our values of stewardship, belonging, and integrity.

That outlook comes from my background as a landscape architect, where every meaningful place begins as a fragile idea and becomes real only through patience, collaboration, and stewardship. Few things give me more confidence in the future than watching people find the beauty of nature and joy in a garden that was once only a vision. As we enter 2026, I am certain that Tohono Chul will continue to be a place of beauty, refuge, and welcome to all.

I’m grateful for the opportunities to implement a few projects in a relatively short time that advanced our garden as a place of stewardship and belonging. In Sami’s Courtyard, we added pollinator-friendly Sonoran Desert plants, a welcoming porch, and brick paving to linger and relax. At Streamside and Sonoran Seasons, we added movable lounge chairs and swings, where I regularly see folks enjoying time together in the shade. And for three years now, we welcomed children and families into our community at Children’s Museum Oro Valley. These intentional improvements bring people closer to the gardens, and indeed, to each other, in our desert corner.

Just in time for the new year, we’re excited to unveil a new pathway connecting the Education Center to the core gardens, made possible by a generous donor. After walking it today, I was delighted to find it delivers even more than expected — offering ADA-accessible access for all abilities while drawing visitors deeper into our native desert landscapes and effectively expanding the garden experience by nearly an acre. The path improves wayfinding, unifies previously disconnected features, and uses an eco-friendly, permeable material made from stone and recycled tires that is both comfortable underfoot and resilient during monsoon storms.

• Twilight Sonoran, a new mural by artist Ignacio Garcia, will bring the magic of the Sonoran Desert after dark to our Pavilion, made possible with support from the Town of Oro Valley. Be among the first to experience it at our I Heart Art event on February 14, featuring live music, food, and enchanting gardens.
• Thanks to your support, construction will begin soon on the Adaptive Arboretum Garden, featuring climate-resilient trees, guided tours, and hands-on workshops to help Tucsonans learn how to plant and care for native trees. Stay tuned for our opening event festivities!
• We have launched Tohono Chul’s new Master Plan, which will guide the organization’s growth over the next 10–15 years. Community input is central to this effort, and we hope you will join us for open house sessions with the design team on Wednesday, April 15, from 5–7pm in the Garden Pavilion.